If you want to use this QR code (Quick Response code) just save the image and paste it where you want. You can even print it and use it that way. Coffee cups, T-Shirts etc would all be good for the QR code.

Hey Grimm! Doctors do make a ton of money here compared to other countries especially the specialists. I also think that insurance companies are a lot of the problem. Their profits are huge. In the Netherlands, all insurance companies are run as non-profits just like our credit unions. The insurers are private. The government regulates but doesn't actually run anything. I heard that 35% of all of our health care dollars go to insurance companies. I think we should adopt the Dutch model. They also don't allow people to be discriminated against if they have a preexisting condition. All people are treated the same regardless of age or health or gender. For instance, all single individuals must be charged the same rate by their insurance company. The same goes for married couples and then married couples for children. This system would help and is better than ours but we still can't get around baumol's disease.

While I am still running on COBRA from my last employer, my future health insurance options are bleak at best. MedicAid is such a sham that only my GP accepts it. Neither my Rhemy nor my Spinal Pain Specialist will even touch it. And of course biologics along with some other meds are not allowed by it. In looking at the Medicare option after I complete my fight for SSDI, I am finding that it is indeed a Plan B. And private insurance is non existant when you add AS to the application. I don't see the government fixing anything...I mean they can't even run the country in the green, but they never miss giving themselves a raise or benefit package, so who are they to try to run a healthcare system? It needs simplified not governed with more confusing beuraucracy.

If everyone could recieve a palm pre and get a diagnosis without going to the doctor. just have the whole appt.over the palm pre. Then go to the pharmacy to get your meds.that would save alot of time and cost and let the people who do need to be seen , be seen alot quicker. have a yearly fee for palm visits and a monthly fee for in person visits. Im at the library so I cannot reply until next week.lost my computer.Lynne

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God doesnt give us what we can handle;
God helps us handle what we are given.

Beloved,Less governmentFix tort action, by lowering benefits and maintaining standards for physiciansStop spending what we do not have- my grandkids have a debt from the last 9 months that will take a life time to repay.Fix social security / Medicare / Medicaid nowLocal responsibility and more sovereignty for the states in regard to insurance.Stop bailing out people who can not give an honest answer and spend more in one weekend get away Than most of us do all year.If a man does not/ did not work why should he be guaranteed insurance?For 35 years I have visited people in hospitals who have never had insurance, who have never paid their bills but are taken care of by our society. We have problems, but we have always taken care of our sick. Yes there are exceptions, but we have been the most generous nation in the world. The Catholic Church said they will close 200 hospitals in the cities, if this mandatory health care goes into effect, why? Because it does demand certain things from folks who are already burdened financially. I did enjoy this rousing discussion. We are all stronger when we have to explain our ideas. Senator Enzi from Wyoming has worked long and hard on this. I have e-mailed him and listened to numerous speeches. I have tried to read copies of this legislation. Has anyone gotten it? We must stop passing bills we have not read.!

Hey Lon, the debt is from the last 8 years and 9 months, not just the last 9 months; it takes time and money to clean up a mess that big.

And those people in the hospital without insurance, we pay every penny of the bill in higher rates. Something has to be done to reform the system and something will be done.

And it's funny about those who cry for less government, like those in Georgia who didn't want any of the stimulus money, but as soon as the flood waters came, here they come, hat in hand to the federal government, wanting their own bailout. Hypocrisy in action.

I don't have health care, Lon, and I can't get it because of AS; the status quo means I won't get health care in my lifetime (goodness knows that the other side had 8 years to pass their version of some kind of reform, including tort reform -- which I agree with by the way -- and they didn't do it; didn't even get a bill out of committee, committees that they controlled and chaired); so yes, I want healthcare reform, because without it, I'm screwed even more than I am now.

HI,
We are agreed, that we need reform. It will take everyone cutting back and cutting down. When the Senate goes to work on Tuesday night, and leaves Thursday afternoon, I don't see how they will get much done.
Thanks for the civil chat. I am not against helping those who need help. I give a percent of my income as do many here; to those in need. When I read the manuscripts of past messages and speeches from these guys who are making these decisions- available at the public library- they have lied to us.
I want more state authority and less naitonal input on health care...
Thanks for you time.
America is worth fighting for, and this site is a wonderful place because of wonderful people.

I always get concerned when the govt gets involved in anything. There are usually 'hidden' rules that actually tie people up so the govt pays less. I've seen it in the medical community, disaster zones, public school systems, etc.

I have a child that is on a special medicaide that only pays for care from specialists .... only their approved ones. The only problem is that I have lost a voice in her care. Some things I will fight, others I will not. I know where my line is drawn and I accept that she will be pulled from the care when I stand up for that line.

I just wish our insurance system would graduate to the 21st century and allow for alternative health care as well. I spend a LOT more money each month on this type of health care because it helps me more than tradiditional medical care. My insurance doesn't cover very much of anything. My hubby works so we can pay for medical care.

Maybe things would be different if the health insurance was run as a non-profit company? I know there's still high salaries in non-profit groups, but maybe the profit as a whole would be less.

Putting a stop to excessive greediness in the medical and pharmaceutical industry would be a nice place to start. Medication doesn't have to cost 'this' much, neither does pulling a tooth cost $250, etc. An xray of the spine shouldn't cost $300 if an xray of the hand costs $40. If people weren't feeling forced into disability for the insurance, then there would be less people trying to get disability. I know that Prescription meds are overly priced, for example some meds have over-the-counter equivalents carrying the same brand name, but cost 100 times less.

Everyone wins with less costs.....
Pharmies get more sales. Doctors get more patients. More people affording insurance (not to mention rates will become cheaper). Less denials for pre-existing conditions. Less people forced into disability. More spending power in Medicare. More people have money for food and clothes. Medicaid's spend-down will stop going up, etc etc etc.

The only people who won't win are the people who want the most amount of money for the least amount of work/product/service.

By the way, I have insurance now, but I was once denied insurance for a pre-existing condition though an employer in the past. PS. This is the polite version of what I was going to say.